@JayHawkFanToo
You got that right. Worked for a US manufacturer in international, and the US biz laws handcuffed us. Companies in the Middle East, Latin America & Asia, built their bribe into their pricing leaving us often as a highest bidder (local agents add their share, share for their govt official approving the contract, their vendor share, etc etc etc). U.S. Laws forbid stealing (bribe) in effort to keep greedy SOBs worldwide honest, but it seemed to hurt honest American businesses. That said, many Western European countries & Canada seemed clean. FIFA & Nike are going after all the dough they can like hyenas & snakes (despise these two creatures more than anything in this world!). Now, I personally believe some in the U.S. (perhaps the DoJ is the front) are finally pissed off after Qatar & Russia so much so they're going after them. It may die out, but don't see how because Adidas et el are trying to build a huge new market, the U.S., and this type of PR on FIFA can't bode well for the soccer industry. Now with Nike rearing its ugly face, not sure it will go away. Nike is huge, but so is Adidas & it wants to protect its future, the U.S. market. The question is will US govt help & side with Adidas to win the battle of shoecos? I wouldn't be surprised if we did, unless some US politicians step in & fight for Nike - for bribe! Yes this indictment won't eliminate the culture of corruption, but will teach FIFA & Nike & other accomplices to get more clever. In the mean time it buys "time" for Adidas & those who lost their fortune in the bidding war to regroup & level the playing field a bit.
Hoping its Nike & not Adidas. Interesting the U.S. went after FIFA, but then again, we got slided by Qatar(!) and Russia? Pissed off politicians out for revenge? Who wants to play or officiate under the blazing sun in Qatar & whose bright idea was that? Money talks & outsted shoeco, media & politicians out for blood!!
@Statmachine
Thanks Stat. Please let us know from the psychic hotline if he is another Embiid. 😀
@DoubleDD
Let me take a shot. Unlike Cal who encourages self-boasting & self-promotion that is the attitude of today's culture (I am a superstar & aint gonna bust my butt to earn a spot) doesn't seem to be so for foreign kids. Think they are more hungry & willing to bust their butts for a chance - perhaps because they haven't been tainted by the Nike industrial complex with parasites blowing smoke up their butts? Foreign kids want to learn & improve (Embid, Svi...), and not afraid of competition. They've also seen Self delivers - Embid, Wigs. Plus these players seem so far humble, not chest thumbing thugs. Ellis, Selden, Mason & all are not arrogant or self-boasting kids like UK. Also think the Midwestern culture is quite attractive too - makes them feel at home, far away from home.
@drgnslayr
Ohhhh my! You saved me slayr! Thought my eyes were deceiving me! That slick Svi!!!
@wrwlumpy
Svi sure looks like he grew at least 3" or everyone else shrank! Mason appears to be 5'5"? Maybe, I need to get my eyes checked ;) Thanks for the photo.
@Crimsonorblue22
Kids like Ben gives me hope & pray Self recruits those type of young men.
@drgnslayr
Great farm story!! You're so correct about the waste. Hosted Russian govt officials many years ago for business & took them to a Mexican restaurant where 1 burrito almost filled a large plate. They never had Mexican food (except KGB turned interpreter) & noticed a lot of leftovers. They asked if the leftovers would be served to others later. When I told'em no, they shook their heads & said they could open a restaurant just from the leftovers. This was before Putin's oil money & Russia was starving. Don't know if this is a good transition here but I'm beginning to see KU attracting players with such understanding. For ex, I see UK bound kids are chest thumbing & have no clue on excess vs moderation, waste vs indulgence. They're today's culture of self-serving & self-praising whereas kids from Africa (Embiid, Cheik), EEU(Svi) & perhaps Canada(Wigs) have a different perspective on life. This is from KUsports.com on Cheik: "He's very humble, really humble,” Diallo’s mentor, Tidiane Drame ... “He’s a nice kid, (but) he’s a warrior on the court.” This kid saves shoes from tourneys he plays in & takes to his country (took 50+ pairs of bball shoes) & dreams of manufacturing shoes cheaply so kids in his country can afford it to play. He said kids don't care if Nike or not. My hunch says he is horrified at Nike prices, therefore anti-Nike! 😝 I'm too. Those prices are absurd & incomprehensible. So, I think Self maybe building a reputation among & attracts kids with character, humility & from diff culture vs pompous Cal who promotes & urges self-boasting. Thoughts?
@JayHawkFanToo
Amen to that! I had no idea this posting turned out this way. Simply wanted some thoughts on how pot and other chemical are/could effect our young growing players from learning in today's much shorter time frame (1-2 years) all the while having to shorten their learning curve when other distractions like alcohol, girls, etc. are enticing them and their time. Think today's players are under much more stress, and their world more complex compared to earlier decades. Let's get back to KUBB. Enough info on pots/drugs that my brain is fried.:)
@DoubleDD
Hmmm, DD, how about a conference call with jb to connect the dots with shoecos to NCAA, ACC & FSU because it does smell fishy.
@sfbahawk
Thanks for posting the Wiki defn on Opium vs Pot. You and I speak a diff lingo, so let's stop here, and stick to KUBB. Oh and this is for your enlightenment only. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3053349/Colorado-mom-gave-pot-brownie-son-jumped-window-police.html ↗
@ralster WOW, thanks for insightful and wonderful commentary. I too am of immigrant parents, and family members in the medical field. Totally agree with you that this Woodstock generation has managed to take down this great nation, and it merely took 40 years. Today, we have entitled, overly sexualized, ignorant, indifferent who want to be managed & cared for by their government without knowing "there's no such thing as free lunch" - will cost their free will. Men's Dignity gone, their Character lost, at last, their civilization tanks.
An interesting article that is symptomatic of a well intended policy to help, but so damn poorly executed. Ignoring human nature gets us nowhere but downhill - why work for something when can be taken for free?
http://nypost.com/2015/04/24/mindy-kalings-brother-illustrates-flaws-of-affirmative-action/ ↗
@sfbahawk - well thanks for your comment. Correct, that's what the Opium War was about where the Brits took guns to China and forced them to buy Opium for the almighty Pounds. Are you telling me Pot vs Opium is different? So how is it that Potheads are so much more effective than Opiumheads? You obviously think there are difference, but I along with this Colorado businessman doesn't want Potheads as employees. Do you have medical expertise in this field to speak to it? Because there are old & new studies saying yes pot is not good for the human race. Sorry, can't tend to gardening as I have these so-called black thumbs! Perhaps your ability to play sports or perform brain surgery won't be effected by pot, but don't you worry because I won't be asking for your services. p.s. I think you missed the whole point - pot and how its effecting our players' ability to learn Self's tactics & strategies within months, not years. Re-read it and comment, don't get stuck on Chinese history, ok? :)
OK, I need a diversion from recruiting. And came upon this article about pot. Those who say "pot" doesn't effect people's behavior or brain, I beg to differ. During the Opium War, Brits kicked China's butt whose citizens were too stoned to defend themselves against the foreign intruders (per Brit Military). A civilization went to pots because of pot, now I'm wondering how many of our players go to practice or games stoned? How would pot or drugs effect their learning curve or BB IQ? Didn't give much thought, but seeing Nadir's eyes half closed during some games, wondered what was wrong with him. Was he stoned? Heard players of all fields smoke pot or drugs to ease the pain from their bruised-up bodies. I wonder if this pot is a bigger thing than the shoecos industry complex?
"When workers at his Colorado business went to pot, Mark Brawner said it was enough for him to roll out of the Rockies and head for South Carolina. Brawner, who ran Little Spider Creations out of an old Denver warehouse for years until this month, told KUSA-TV Thursday he moved because pot was hurting his company. He said employees started to come to work stoned after the state legalized the drug for recreational use in 2012.
“The main reason we pulled out was because of marijuana,” Brawner said. “Marijuana got into our industry. Half the sculptors will come in high. As soon as we’d catch it, they’d be let go. We went through 25 sculptors. Only five of (our sculptors) either were quality or would show up unimpaired.”
But Brawner said his comments got “twisted out of proportion,” although he did not deny relocating to the Myrtle Beach area, where smoking pot is still illegal. “They had an agenda. They got what they wanted and not what they heard,” he said. A call to KUSA news director Christy Moreno was not immediately returned. Little Spider has built Halloween-like props for Six Flags amusement parks, the Dollywood Theme Park in Tennessee, and other haunted house entertainment venues.
The company's a new home is a spacious facility in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The local Chamber of Commerce lured Brawner to move with a $25,000 grant. In exchange Brawner pledged to create 35 jobs and to make a $2.65 million investment in his business. In Colorado, Little Spider employed 47 sculptors, artists and animators.
The Myrtle Beach Sun News reported that back in Colorado, Brawner had been dealing with a “nasty” local government regulator and too many stoned workers. Those problems made his wife’s entreaties to move more appealing. Now Brawner would like to take back remarks he made to KUSA like this one:
“A painter doesn’t do production as quick as we want. If you build a house you can build a house to the plans. When we’re asking you to sculpt a giant dinosaur, and it has to have personality and stuff, when you’re high you can’t see it. Your whole body says its good enough, when it’s not. The quality suffers.”
A Colorado business group told the station Little Spider’s departure is the first they heard of a company leaving the state because of legalized marijuana. Brawner just wanted his marijuana remarks to go puff. He declined to say how his comments, which were audio-taped, could have been misconstrued. “I don’t have anything more to say, not even to make things right,” he said.
Colorado legalized pot in 2013, and the first marijuana shops opened at the beginning of 2014. Washington and Alaska subsequently legalized the drug, and similar measures have been proposed in other states."
@jaybate-1.0
So basically today's coaching has come to "time & talent management of OADs" with little or no "development". And that profession is demanding millions in salary? I wonder what a college bb player without the NBA talent but has a PhD in youth & time management can successfully coach for $70,000 a year. Wait, he'll be going against the likes of K & Cali who learned to manipulate the refs & NCAA while smooching with the shoecos execs. Okay, maybe coaches need to be paid $millions. After all, Hillary Clinton's State Dept sold us out selling our nation's strategic resource uranium to Putin for the almighty dollar. Hey, adults & leaders will do anything for a buck, so why not kids with bb talent? In the name of money, we've come to rationalize everything including morality, dignity, sensibility & down right goodness. How K & Cali play the bb field for W is despicable as politicians who sell their soul for power.
@jaybate-1.0
So how many Adidas OAD/TADs are we going to sign this season?
@Crimsonorblue22
Mason is my fav player! He reminds me of Jarrod Dyson on Royals who has that sheer determination - looking for that next steal! Don't ask me why or how, but they both have that look in their eyes. Although Mason has some development left in the bb iq area - or perhaps he's too fatigued playing the most minutes last season. Here's hoping & praying & wishing that he grows and matures this summer to knock all D1 PGs out of the water come this season! Thanks for posting the video!
@jaybate-1.0
So Svi will be a bench warmer or do you think he's got what it takes to beat out those ahead? Also, can Svi develop physically to be formidable this year?
@FarSideHawk
JB had a senior moment 😜
@jaybate-1.0
Love that song! Geez jb, you're old!! 😝 Now I can't sleep playing that in my head!!
@DoubleDD
You're right on the money. From a marketing perspective, Cal's inability to get NC is one of the worst PR failure that will cost Nike. Nike's strategy back fired & agree Americans can see & when they find out UK & AAU are the marketing arms for Nike, they will turn away. Hope it won't hurt the college Bball when that happens.
He's building a new home near Self & bought a property on Mass with Self. Planning his retirement & hang out at AFH as Assistant? Could you guys see it happening? Please help with the link? http://m.ljworld.com/weblogs/town_talk/2015/apr/17/bill-self-and-scot-pollard-team-up-to-bu/?templates=mobile ↗
@HawksWin said:
He's building a new home near Self & bought a property on Mass with Self. Planning his retirement & hang out at AFH as Assistant? Could you guys see it happening? Please help with the link?
http://m.ljworld.com/weblogs/town_talk/2015/apr/17/bill-self-and-scot-pollard-team-up-to-bu/?templates=mobile ↗
@jaybate-1.0
Wow, jb. How did you know I just did a paper on Hell & Purgatory? Yes, not a pleasant topic, but kinda woke me up from being lethargic about it. As I understand it, Hell is a place, but Purgatory is a state. If you're interested, know some Saints who saw Hell & Purgatory via private revelation. Anyway, I've promised myself no rant or vent against Self next season :) Instead, offer my love & mercy to him and Greene if his 3s don't fall. :) If I forget in January or March next year, kindly remind me of this posting. Thanks jb.
@jaybate-1.0
Didn't know Under Armour is swimming in the golf world, what sport(s) does Adidas dominate? Love this new kid Spieth though!
"Masters champion Jordan Spieth celebrated his big win with friends at Lavo in Midtown Monday night. We’re told the Texas native, 21, had a pasta and steak dinner with a friend and execs from his clothing sponsor, Under Armour. Other diners recognized Spieth as he walked out of the East 58th Street hot spot. Patrons gave him a standing ovation as he exited, we’re told. Spies also told us Spieth had to dive into a waiting cab to make a speedy getaway from paparazzi waiting outside."
http://pagesix.com/2015/04/14/golf-champion-gets-standing-ovation-at-lavo/?_ga=1.169950883.2031904535.1424726776 ↗
Does Self realize 14 hour difference between Lawrence and Korea? It is Midnight there vs. 10am Central. Europe is a bit easier to adjust, but when the day/night flips, it will take a few days even for healthy boys to adjust. They will be up ready to go at 4am in Korea.
@ralster
Thanks for the tweet updates. I'm not surprised about TRob and spirituality given all of his loved ones are gone, only his baby sister. We all need loved ones around for support from daily grinds of life, and perhaps he found solace in God. Hope he has good people around him. He's got it tough compared to most players.
@drgnslayr
thats funny. Hope he's cashing in with Canadian $, not bartering with animals. One of my fav players.
@JayHawkFanToo
Okay FanToo, here's my take on Stumpy. 1) Don't like him, 2) His record with stacked OADs at AZ tells me he's mediocre in that pitiful PAC. Why he should be whipping others in his conference & NCAA with Nike's help IF he's good of a coach as you say he is - think he was hungrier at Xavier & had to work hard for wins. His weight at AZ tells me he's not so hungry but being fed too well. 3) Don't have proof but whatever he did with Tarc, left a bitter taste - my gut tells something fishy, and 4) He's got that same face as K, and that OSU coach. For what's worth, this is all subjective - no data no facts - just my eye balls & guts speaking.
@JayHawkFanToo
You got that right FanToo! This Climate Change is the biggest lie and deception, and people are falling for it! Once scientists' research supported the COW MILK over MOM's MILK to babies only to recant a decade later that showed MOTHER's MILK is beneficial to babies because it provides immediate immune plus much more. And these same Scientists claim to know less than 10% of the bottom of the ocean that holds 95%+ of earth's water, and these bozo idiots claim to know about the climate? Are you kidding me? They have yet to discover all the creatures on earth, let alone how water/ocean pressure, wind, etc work? How arrogant or ignorant are these claimed academics? Can you imagine our taxes paying for such bogus research when common sense will tell you why feed animal's milk to a baby when mother produces it? Uneducated or educated, people stopped using their brain, and listening too much of media that is full of s---! Sorry to go off here, but your comment hit a nerve :)
@jaybate-1.0
Thanks for helping me understand how in the world colleges like Texas, AZ (can't stand that coach) got Durant and 5 star recruits. I couldn't for the life of figure out how these kids sign up to go there when they know the outcome! It is disheartening to see talented young bloods don't have that winning mindset and sell out to $ even before the draft. I just hear Nike agents telling these kids, "don't go to KU because you'll work your fanny off, and you're bound to injuries. And going to Texas, you'll be safe and guarantee top 20 pick." If I were a kid with talent & brain, I'd say I'm gonna go where I can get better, and WIN. It's pitiful how these corrupted Nikes are ruining our future champions and their minds with bribes and fears. Young minds can easily be manipulated and influenced, and Nikes are taking advantage of this. Also, what is your opinion about Selden? Something happened to this kid at KU, just a gut feeling. I'd appreciate your insight - oh, spell it out for me, please!
@jaybate-1.0
What's your opinion of Snacks? Is he equipped to take over Self when he retires? Is Snacks that good of a coach? I don't know, hence the question. Thanks.
@drgnslayr
Thanks for the thought provoking comment on recruiting. I always wondered why, and here are my two cents: 1) KU has to spend as it is in the middle of this huge country where it takes 3 hrs min (that's direct flight) just to get to Vegas, that's not the coast. So I'm ok with the $ spent. 2) In my humble opinion, we haven't landed top PGs because Self is known for hi/lo, and self-boasting PGs aren't going to take a second seat to footers, and I can't blame them. 3) Self's "earn your spot" invites injuries because these young kids have to physically play like never before, and he's motto "to play through injuries" has no appeal to talented kids who want easy way to NBA. If I were a top 5 and trying to protect my assets (body) and need to buy 1 year in college, I won't go to KU. Wiggins has the IQ and athleticism, but was young and would have followed Self's motto. That said, he has a father who knows the industry and understood the risk of injuries, thus telling Wiggns to get buy without injuries. His dad protected Wiggins from Self. That's how I saw it. 4) Agree, Self needs to modify and adjust his strategies according to each player. It's one thing to follow a system, but good leader knows how to maximize one's resources on hand. He had to this season, but some other seasons, he left me scratching my head. I'm not criticizing Self, just pushing and wanting him to be better. I have no doubt he will. 5) Lastly and most importantly - because this is beyond Self and staff's control - jb's ShoeCos that controls the industry. Where the money is, the corruption follows. Self who plays by the rule (unlike Cali or K) is playing in the field with one hand tied to his back. I say Duke's K because he may not be like Cal, but he bends & stretches & manipulates the rules and that equates to cheating in my book. All said, I remain hopeful and excited to see how Self jump starts.
@KU-Flyer
You bring up great points 1) kids can't communicate effectively & poignantly today. Their "text" lingo can't possibly translate well on the court. 2) Ability express one's thought is a challenge for teens, particularly boys. Their vocabulary consists of "lol, ok, uh huh..." Good communication skill and add leadshership skills needed on & out of the court. It takes more than physicalness to win NC.
@jaybate-1.0
Not sure if this is the right place (didn't check other headlines), and this is from no-keen eyes for KU bball, but based on what I've observed, our players are athletic, but their BBall IQ isn't the same level as their athleticism. If one's IQ is good, their body isn't quite there, and vice versa. Mistakes they've made during the mid & late season (this isn't just this year) makes me wonder if they got rocks for brain. A case in point is Cliff who fell short of his brain talent. Self needs physical talent with brain talent. Sorry if I'm being harsh but Snack's ability to relate to players is one thing, but recruits lacking in brain talent requires coaches with more than social skills. There's so much emphasis on social skills with tweets etc that I wonder if our coaches are looking at recruits ability to learn - so as to shorten the learning curve given OADs one year timeline.
@truehawk93
Wow "true" I get Cali is a questionable coach in ethics, but Catholic schools are haven for underprivileged kids, and that coach Hurley has done miracles for kids who may be in prison without him. Also, if you look at the stats on cost per student spent by the govt & the Catholic schools, the latter wins as the govt spends 2x-3x more. Yah I don't like coach Hurley tooting for Cali either, but if that opens Cali's deep pocket to spread his wealth with those in need, I can't fault coach Hurley. Because he needs the money for the kids - did you see espunee's 30/30 on that school & gym? It's nothing like suburb's fancy mega million schools. That school is dilapidated it's pitiful! Hopefully Self will donate some too, if permissible by the NCAA.
@jaybate-1.0
One thing about you jb is that you don't sway from your loyalty or conviction. Sometimes I question my loyalty & commitment to Self - after a horrible loss - but you always stay true to Self. That's admirable & hard to find these days. A real true friend Self has in you.
@jaybate-1.0
Got cha. Thanks!
@jaybate-1.0
I'm a bit slow in digesting your analysis. I get Dakari's position is negative for Cali, but how did NCAA normalized the system? Please expound - for me? Thanks, jb.
@ralster
I'm with you on AZ! Don't care for Miler, and his recruiting stings up the sky. He reminds me of Duke K's face but much fatter. Not very nice of me, and don't have anything against Miller personally, but there are coaches comes across as real MAN => Self. If that makes any sense.
@BeddieKU23
Barnes back to UTexas?
@jaybate-1.0
Noooooo!!! I'd have to start watching DII basketball. Can't stand that egomaniac in B12. That said, a very clever idea! It'd be a boost to B12 & recruiting will be a walk in the park for Self - "care to go head on with Cali's 10+ OADs against Texas? Hope Texas doesn't hire Marshall, at least Barnes has class & character unlike shady Marshall using elbows to hit other players. So yah JB, I'm on board with Cal coming to Texas provided he doesn't dirty it up. Good way for Self to show the world what he could do with 5 OADs!! Bring that slick Cal & Nike to B12!! First, we need to form The B12 Refree Association (managed by students & fans without pay) to keep Nike's money out of fixing conference games.
@Crimsonorblue22
Think this is a good time to thank you for your sense of humor, I've thoroughly enjoyed "bursting out in laughter" reading yours, nuleaf, and other board rats. Now the season's over, I'll have to ponder where to go for that "fix" :)
@benshawks08
We all know successful and accomplished people, and there are those who earn the respect and love even from their enemies, and those are real wo/men. Marshall is someone - even if he wins the NC - I will not love or respect. I respect Izzo. But, Marshall is a loser, he may be a winner of 1 game or seasons, but a loser unlike Self who is a winner - as a man. It's hard to find wo/men of character with virtues today. Marshall taught & allowed his players to purposely physically beat up opponents - just so he can win? That's not a man of character, but a weasel and a weak pitiful man. Fear the weak, not the strong, for the weak is wicked - the weak wicked emperor Marcus Aurelius in the "Gladiator" is no king or even a man.
@dylans
I agree, Wusuu coach Marshall is a BIG HUGE Jerk. I'd love to put a sock in his mouth.
@jaybate-1.0
okay, how about this idea - let go of the tough rough B12 wins, save bodies for the tourney. If our boys were healthy (one thing I do not like about Self is playing injured boys at all cost during season to win B12), I think they'd have punched back yesterday. When bodies are worn & injured, mind is weak too - may not so for grown adult males, but these are still young boys. Save their bodies during the season, and go all out healthy body & mind in March. I'm tired of winning B12 that leaves boys injured & worn out only to go at it HARDER for the tourney. That logic doesn't work. Self's been repeating that formula, and the March outcome hasn't changed. It's time for a different strategy, not just the game strategy, but the season, annual strategy needs to be revisited. Lastly, B12 needs to review current "we get to play each other twice" that leaves injured and used up players for the tourney - leaving Espunnies & coast biased laughing to the FF. B12 is sabotaging itself. The league needs to be divided into 2, and stop the "let's beat up on each other" while other leagues are playing smarter.
@jaybate-1.0
Ohhh.... that's a remarkable speech and adaptation... thanks for sharing...
@jaybate-1.0
"The Nike school coaches should decline to have opinions on the subject and let the NBA decide to extend the stay to two years, which is exactly what the shameless Coach K has done."
Boy oh boy, did you hit that one right. I too thought K's reply was so so pitiful, can't call him coach anymore. He's a weasel without spine playing politically correct, and should be named "weasel K". That's it, that's his new name.
@jaybate-1.0
Wow jb. I almost got up and gave a salute! Great commentary.
@wissoxfan83
Oh NO, not at all. I did not sense any mean bone in your body except for our opponents :) - you weren't being disrespectful or hateful - just a good sense of humor. God gave us humor. Thanks, I enjoyed it.